Daily Archives: June 21, 2013

The Baker County Commission will now turn its attention back to whether it should approve a special exception to allow sand mining southeast of Macclenny on a 437-acre tract off SR 228.

The proposal to permit Oldcastle Southern Group of Tampa was tabled last year pending issuance of permits by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, a process now complete. The state says it’s okay and the question now rebounds back to two local boards: the Land Planning Agency and the commission.

Thanks to some creative problem solving, the matter of drawing out water from the aquifer for the mining process is now mute. Oldcastle and the City of Macclenny last week entered into a half-century pact to pipe treated wastewater to the mining site.

Police arrested a Macclenny man for entering a vehicle parked at the Boy Scout Landing on the St. Mary’s River the afternoon of June 12 and taking cash and prescription medication.

Jimmy Morgan, 59, was stopped on Steel Bridge Rd. shortly after the 4:15 pm incident based on a description of his Ford pickup given by Robert Force of Glen St. Mary, an acquaintance of victim Tiffany Barton of Macclenny.

Mr. Force told Deputy Earl Lord he and Ms. Barton were swimming in the river when he saw the suspect rummaging through her 1999 Ford. He confronted Mr. Morgan, who tossed $85 in cash at him saying, “Just take it” before driving off.

Sgt. Shawn Bishara took the suspect into custody and brought him back to the scene where Mr. Force identified him.
Mr. Morgan was arrested for burglary and petty theft.